Teen sentenced for fatal car accident caused by drugged driving

A New York teenager has been sentenced for his contribution to a deadly motor vehicle accident that claimed the lives of four individuals. The man was convicted of drugged driving that led to the fatal car accident on Long Island. He admitted that he had consumed marijuana and was high at the time of the tragedy.

The teenager entered a guilty plea in July to certain charges against him, including driving while drugged and vehicular homicide. A New York jury originally found him guilty in June of reckless driving, reckless endangerment and manslaughter. According to the accident report, the car was traveling at more than 100 miles per hour when it struck a tree. Despite the defense’s request for lenient sentencing due to his young age at the time of the crash, the driver was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.

The criminal conviction may go a long ways toward establishing financial liability in any civil claims pursued in the aftermath of the fatal accident. Victims of car accidents have the right to seek financial damages sustained due to the negligence of another. In cases of fatal accidents, as wa the case here, the victims’ surviving families retain the right to pursue wrongful death claims against the driver deemed negligent and anyone else with an ownership interest in the vehicle involved in the crash.

A fatal car accident can leave a monetary burden on a family due to end of life expenses and other accident-related damages, including loss of future income. In order to collect a settlement to offset these costs, claimants must present evidence to validate any claims of negligence made. To further understand this option, it is best to seek a professional evaluation.

Source: jamestownsun.com, “New York teen gets five to 15 years in fatal drugged driving crash“, , Aug. 26, 2014